Jean-Pierre Beltoise, the 197𝄹2 Monaco Grand Prix winner, has die𒀰d at the age of 77.

French newspaper L'Equipe reports that Beltoiseꦗ passed away in Senegal after suffering two strokes over the New Year period. Beltoise had been in Dakar o♈n holiday when he fell ill, with the Frenchman dying on Monday.

Beltoise started 86 grands prix, racing for both Matra and BRM and taking his only F1 victory for the latter in heavy rain in Mℱonaco.

Born in Boulogne Billancourt in Paris in 1937, Beltoise began racing motorbikes in the late 1950s and in 1961 took the French national 250cc title, one of 11 national championships he won. Beltoise also entered a number of intern⛎ational Grand Prix motorcycle races between 1962 and 1964, finishing sixth in the 50cc world championship in his final season.

Switching his attentions to cars, Beltoise enjo♓yed success in Formula 3 and Formula 2 before stepping up to F1 with Matra having won the non-championship Buenos Aires Grand Prix in 1967. His first podium came a year later in the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort as he finished second behind Jackie Stewart.

Beltoise most successful season in F1 came in 1969 when he finished fifth in the championship with three podiums, but it wasn't until 🍃his switch to BRM in 1972 that Beltoise finally took victory, winning in Monaco to secure w🌞hat was to be the team's last grand prix win.

After retiring from F1 in 1974, Beltoise became a test driver for Ligi꧋er while also racing in touring cars and ice racing back in his native Fra♎nce.

Having married Francois Cevert's sister Jacqueline, Beltoise had two sons - Anthony and Julien - who are both also involved in racing, with Anthony having c🔯ompeted at Le Mans on three occasions.

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier described Beltoise's only g🦩rand prix win as "superb" 🧜as he paid tribute to his fellow Frenchman.

"Speaking on behalf of everyone at McLaren-Honda, I would like to pay tribute to Jean-Pierre Beltoise, who has recently passed away," Boullier said.

"A fine driver on two wheels as well as four, he achieved eight podium finishes in Grands Prix, the highlight being a superb victory in torrential rain at Monaco in 1972, the 17th and final Grand Prix win for the legendary BRM team.

"Our thoughts are with his family an🎃d friends at this very sa𒊎d time."